sed
to draw his load of brush and dead leaves. She stared at the group
dully: six months ago she would have flinched at the great clambering
hoofs and the man's danger.

"And even if I did give up and promise everything, do you believe I'd
get out, doctor?"

"I see no reason----"

"You don't need to lie to me," she interrupted. "When I signed that
paper, they fooled me: it was for good. It said six months--but it was
for good."

He felt a great sympathy for her. It was hard, very hard. And yet,
what they had been through with her!

"If only you hadn't refused to travel," he began.

"But I agreed to--I agreed to, last month," she cried, "even though I'm
never well travelling, I agreed to--and what happened? Dr. Jarvyse
said it wouldn't be best for me! And you did nothing..."

"How could I, Miss Mary?" he urged. "You know the only reason I see
you so often is that I acquiesce and don't interfere. The moment I
thought it would do any good----"

"You mean you're not sure, yourself!" she said keenly.

He sighed.

"You know I'm your friend," he said simply.

Her whole face changed. An almost disconcerting brightness flashed
over it. Through all the heaviness and fatigue and despair that had
yellowed her skin, dulled her eyes, and taken, it seemed, the very
sheen from her black hair, her lost girlhood flared a moment. With the
inconstant emotion of a child she smiled at him.

"I know you are," she murmured confidingly, "and I'll tell you
something, because you are."

"What is it, Miss Mary?" he said, but he sighed as he said it.

"Do you see how I'm dressed?" she half whispered. He looked,
uncomprehending, at the long light ulster she wore.

"Underneath, I'm in black," she said softly, "a whole suit. I have a
little bag packed right under this rock, and I have ninety dollars in
my bag, here." She tapped her waist, where a small shopping bag
dangled. "And I have an umbrella. I always sit near this gate."

"Why do you do such things, dear Miss Mary?" he said sadly. "It does
you no good--please try to believe me!"

"I never did, until I had the dream," she answered calmly. "This is
the third night I've had it. I dreamed I was near some gate, and I
looked down, and right before me on the path I saw a key--a great,
brown key! So I started to pick it up, and then I realised that I
wasn't prepared, that I had no money, and that I'd just be caught and
brought back. Then I woke. But I dream